Associations between vaginal bacteria and levels of vaginal defensins in pregnant women

Objective We evaluated vaginal defensin concentrations and levels of bacterial vaginosis–associated bacterial species in pregnant women. Study Design Self-collected vaginal swabs from 2 visits during pregnancy were tested with quantitative polymerase chain reaction for 9 bacterial species. Beta defe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of obstetrics and gynecology 2013-02, Vol.208 (2), p.132.e1-132.e7
Main Authors: Mitchell, Caroline, MD, MPH, Gottsch, Michelle L., PhD, Liu, Congzhou, BS, Fredricks, David N., MD, Nelson, Deborah B., PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
alpha-Defensins - metabolism
Bacteria - isolation & purification
bacterial vaginosis
beta-Defensins - metabolism
Body Fluids - metabolism
Cohort Studies
defensins
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Gestational Age
Humans
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious
Prevalence
Prospective Studies
Vagina - metabolism
Vaginal Smears
Vaginosis, Bacterial - metabolism
Vaginosis, Bacterial - microbiology
Young Adult
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Summary:Objective We evaluated vaginal defensin concentrations and levels of bacterial vaginosis–associated bacterial species in pregnant women. Study Design Self-collected vaginal swabs from 2 visits during pregnancy were tested with quantitative polymerase chain reaction for 9 bacterial species. Beta defensins 2-3 and alpha defensins 1-3 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Our 126 participants were primarily African American (60%), had a mean gestational age at enrollment of 10 ± 3 weeks and at follow-up visit of 25 ± 6 weeks. At enrollment, the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis was 74% (94/126 women), which decreased to 60% (75/126 specimens) at follow-up visit. At enrollment, beta defensin 3 concentrations were significantly lower in women with bacterial vaginosis (2.64 ± 0.91 vs 3.25 ± 0.99 log10 pg/mL; P = .003). Higher concentrations of Atopobium vaginae , bacterial vaginosis–associated bacteria1 and 2 were associated with significantly lower concentrations of beta defensin 3 ( P < .01). Conclusion Bacterial vaginosis was associated with lower vaginal concentrations of beta defensin 3, but not beta defensin 2 or alpha defensins 1-3, in pregnant women.
ISSN:0002-9378
1097-6868
DOI:10.1016/j.ajog.2012.11.019